Three men have been rescued from Southland's Waikaia River, after being reported missing while rafting

Police were alerted after the men failed to reach their designated pickup point around 9:30 last night.

Search and Rescue began a search at first light this morning.

A helicopter spotted two inflatable vessels near Piano Flat, before one of the men was found near the river's edge with a leg injury.

The other two were found shortly after; all three were winched to safety.